Talent Acquisition Specialist

Location: Remote, Los Angeles or Philadelphia preferred

About Us

Our country's education and workforce systems are inequitable, failing to meet the needs of our most marginalized citizens. Historically, workforce education has led to low-wage jobs disconnected from ongoing higher education, which has created significant barriers for career advancement. At the same time, traditional higher education has increasingly become unaffordable for Americans from lower-income backgrounds while also lacking direct connection to the labor market. The consequences of these systemic failures are dire.

At Propel America, we believe a better system should and can exist. We believe high school graduates shouldn't have to choose between forestalling income and accruing significant debt while pursuing a traditional college degree or forestalling education and mobility for low-wage, entry-level work with few opportunities for advancement. Propel is building that better system - a Jobs-First Higher Education - that allows young adults from low-income backgrounds to access an affordable and efficient pathway to a good job that serves as a springboard to a choice-filled life.

By working backward from the needs of established employer partners, Propel America:

• Partners with employers to assess talent needs, create relevant training programs, and hire diverse, local talent for their in-demand roles.
• Recruits, guides, and supports young adults (18-26 years old), particularly those from low-income backgrounds, through a blended, technology-enabled career accelerator inclusive of a suite of products and supports (including career exploration, cohort learning, one-on-one coaching, etc) to ensure fellows have what they need to be successful in their job interview, persist in the workforce, and a plan for ongoing education and career advancement.
• Partners with training and higher education organizations to offer in-demand credentials that allow young adults to earn college credits

To learn more about Propel America, please visit https://www.propelamerica.org.

The Opportunity

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will oversee the regional admissions process for prospective Fellows, ensuring an equitable and mission-aligned selection and enrollment experience. You will implement recruitment and admissions strategies, analyze applicant data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement, and collaborate with regional and program leaders to ensure applicant readiness and strong pathway alignment.

Core Responsibilities

1. Talent Engagement & Selection (60%) * Adhere to and execute selection criteria and evaluation processes that align with pathway program goals ensuring equity. * Conduct interviews and make final selection recommendations based on comprehensive assessment of applicant readiness and program fit. * Analyze data trends for your region to forecast enrollment targets and recommend strategies to improve conversion rates and applicant experience. * Partner with sourcing, program, and coaching teams to align admissions outcomes with workforce and fellowship needs.
2. Applicant Experience & Continuous Improvement (20%) * Manage applications and effectively engage prospective Fellows through the onboarding pipeline, nurturing, and keeping applicants warm through intake and pre-fellowship program offerings. * Oversee and support participants through the pre-fellowship experience, ensuring an inclusive, equitable, and supportive onboarding journey. * Identify systemic barriers in the intake process and propose solutions to improve applicant accessibility and success. * Leads and ensures applicants are prepared to start, commit and complete the pre-fellowship and training process for securing employment.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting (10%) * Serve as a subject-matter expert for your pathway and region, advising internal teams on applicant trends and readiness. * Review data and provide strategic insights to inform cross-team planning and regional recruitment initiatives to increase impact, with an eye toward positive fellow experience, outcomes, and scalability. * Represent your regional portfolio of talent in cross-functional planning meetings to align with organizational objectives and key results.
4. Leverage Technology for Impact (10%) * Capture and track data toward priority key results in order to provide the most accurate picture of applicants and their needs. * Recommend technology-enabled tools and workflows to improve team efficiency and applicant tracking. * Collaborate with the Propel team to share feedback and ideas for improving the pre-fellowship/onboarding process, contribute ideas and innovations to enhance technology use, improving team efficiency and driving scalability.

Preferred Qualifications

1. 3+ years of experience in admissions, recruitment, or related field with demonstrated success using data to drive decision-making.
2. Proven ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in complex, ambiguous situations.
3. Demonstrated experience improving systems, processes, and applicant outcomes through innovation and analysis.
4. Advanced proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and data-driven admissions strategies.
5. Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Compensation

The salary for this position is between $51,800--$64,700 annually. We consider candidate experience and location when determining where a candidate may fall within that range. Propel America offers a competitive total rewards package including coverage of 90% of health insurance premiums, unlimited PTO, and a flexible work environment.

Classification: Non-exempt (hourly)
This position is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is therefore eligible for overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

Standard work hours for this role are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday] , with some flexibility based on program needs. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required, with overtime pay provided for eligible hours.